5 Immediate Effects you will see when Studying the Bible Seriously and why you should start now 

Pastor Art Snow • May 2, 2022

5 Immediate Effects you will see when Studying the Bible Seriously and why you should start now 

Many Christians are casual readers of the Bible satisfied to glance over the scriptures, you know peruse it, give it a cursory reading. While all the time there are veins of pure gold awaiting the student who dares to delve deeper. If you listen carefully you can hear the Holy Spirit calling you deeper and deeper. 

I always challenge Christians to purchase a Study Bible, get comfortable with cross-references and the commentary at the bottom of the page. Learn to use  the maps, and all of the study aids found throughout the book such as; Topical index, Concordance, The harmony of the Gospels, Introductions to each of the books, Charts, Table of weights, measures, and coins, Read through the Bible in a year plan, Classifications of the books of the Bible, The Doctrines of the faith, How we got our Bible, and the list goes on and on. If you don’t use these wonderful tools it is like buying a thousand dollar iPhone and only using it for phone calls. 

If you don’t use these wonderful tools it is like buying a thousand dollar iPhone and only using it for phone calls.

So what happens to the average Christian when they take up the challenge of seriously studying the Bible? I would like to suggest 5 things that will take place immediately after making this very wise decision. 

You will be stronger in your faith. 

The Bible says: “So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Those who will seriously engage the Word of God will find an immediate growth spurt in their walk with the Lord. In the natural when you eat right and have the abundance of the right nutritional resources your physical body reacts positively, the same is in the spiritual. 

The scriptures activate supernatural growth hormones, and as you begin to flex the muscles of your spirit you quickly bulk up. Where there used to be flabby and weak appendages hanging from your spiritual body, now there are strong healthy uplifted hands and arms prepared for God’s work. 

You will have ammunition to fight the enemy.

When Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days he used the scriptures as his weapon against Satan. After he had fasted for 40 days the tempter appealed to his hunger and called him to command the stones to be turned into bread. Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 (…”Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Then Satan took Jesus up to the pinnacle of the temple and told him to jump off by quoting Psalm 91:11-12 (Satan knows the Bible better than many Christians). On the other hand Jesus replies it is written “you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Deuteronomy 6:16)

The drama continued as Satan took Jesus to the top of a very high mountain and showing him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory which he said would be his, if only Jesus would bow down and worship him. To which Jesus exclaimed (with probably a loud voice) “Go Satan !” Then the Son of God quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 where it states “You shall worship the Lord your God , and serve him only.” We are then told, the Devil left Him !

If it worked for Jesus it will certainly work for us. The more you grow in your knowledge of the Bible the more you increase your arsenal to use against the enemy of our souls. 

You will see the world differently

When you are full of God’s word, you have a different world-view. Instead of looking through a human, broken grid you see through the grid of hope and possibility and life that comes from an eternal source. When looking at the kid on the corner selling dope, you see the next church planter. After all he has influence and ready made customers, ah yes your mind immediately goes back to Saul of Tarsus who became the Apostle Paul. This Bible story assures you every broken person has kingdom potential. 

When feeling threatened, instead of wringing your hands in fear you remember Psalm 91:10-11”No evil will befall you nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.”

When self-doubt comes your way, you remember what the Psalmist says about you….”I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made wonderful are your works and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.” (Psalm 139:11-12)

Your study of the Bible enriches your daily experience and now you see all things through the kaleidoscope of God’s eternal word. 

You will understand deep

The Psalmist tells us “ Deep calls unto deep at the sound of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have rolled over me.” (Psalm 42:7) There are so many deep truths found in your Bible, but so many Christians never take the time to dig them out.  I liken the scriptures to an archaeological dig. A “Tel” is a raised area on the earth where the archaeologist digs, on the surface he will find recent civilizations but the deeper he digs he may fine evidence from the early 800’s and deeper he may find artifacts from Jesus day, and even deeper shards of pottery from the time of David. 

Any Christian can find the treasure on the surface of the Word, but it is only the serious student who finds the deep vein of gold that lay deeper down. There are so many incredible truths the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to every believer, yet so many are satisfied finding the pearls on the surface. The challenge is dig deeper !

You will be challenged in your preconceived ideas and notions  

When I was saved for a year I thought I knew most everything there was to know about the Bible, I was terribly naive and uneducated in God’s beautiful book. I had very few preconceived notions about the Bible or God’s Kingdom because I had never gone to church until I was saved at age 17. I was just ignorant, having no knowledge at all. Many people come into the Kingdom having ideas and notions formed by the world, or their family only to have them challenged by the truth of God’s word. When confronted with the Bible every one of our preconceived notions must bow to the preeminence of the scriptures. The very best posture to have as a Christian is; Lord I surrender all that I think or believe, submitting them to the grid of your holy scriptures. That humble statement will serve you well as you make your way on your journey with God. 

In closing allow me to quote the great 19th Century Evangelist D. L. Moody,

“It is not important how you mark your Bible, it is important how your Bible marks you.”  

Pastor Art Snow | May 2, 2022

Edited and Adapted for Web Use by: Eric Muñoz Jr.